Save the date – Genetics Matters 29th of February 2020

Events, Genetics Matters, Musculoskeletal news

Our popular Genetics Matters event is back!

Save the date and come see us on Saturday the 29th of February for a fun afternoon filled with science and cake, as part of the International Rare Disease Day. Please email katarzyna.pirog@ncl.ac.uk if you’d like to take part and present and please spread the news amongst your friends and colleagues, the more the merrier!

From the International Rare Disease Day website: 

“When the challenge of raising awareness for people affected by a rare disease still looms. On Rare Disease Day we must re-double our efforts. Re-think, re-envision, reimagine. Reframe what it means to be ‘rare’. In fact – rare isn’t scarce, rare isn’t infrequent, rare isn’t remote. Rare is not as rare as you think. The statistics speak for themselves. There are more than 300 million patients, each supported by family, friends and a team of carers, that make up the rare disease community worldwide. Over 6,000 different diseases. Collectively, they make up the third largest country in the world. Rare is many. Rare is strong. Rare is proud. The likely truth is that you know one of the 1 in 20 people affected by a rare disease. We need society to understand that millions of people living with a rare disease around the world face inequitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care. It’s time to take action for people living with a rare disease to have equal opportunities to realise their potential. [..] We need everyone to get involved and join the movement to reframe rare!”

Join the National Conversation on Rare Diseases

Events, Musculoskeletal news

In July, the Minister for rare disease at the Department for Health and Social Care, Baroness Blackwood, announced a ‘national conversation’ on rare disease. This conversation aims to gather a range of views from the rare disease community.  The views collected from patients, families and carers, healthcare professionals (including GPs, specialist rare disease clinicians, clinical academics) and industry will be used by government to inform a rare disease framework to improve the lives of people living with rare diseases. This will follow on from the current UK Rare Diseases Strategy which expires at the end of 2020.


To start the conversation, a survey has been launched to understand the major barriers that healthcare professionals working with rare diseases face. Make sure your voice is heard by completing this short survey by Friday 29th November 2019.

CNoS, Biochem Soc and NICAP workshop exploring collaboration across the arts and sciences 29th October 2019

Musculoskeletal news

The Cultural Negotiation of Science (CNoS), Northumbria University are hosting a one-day workshop and an evening event in collaboration with the Biochemical Society and Newcastle University’s Institute for Creative Arts Practice (NICAP) exploring ways of working across the arts and sciences. The workshops builds on the strengths of the CNoS’ existing inter-disciplinary workshop capabilities and the experience of CNoS researchers, such as Dr Louise Mackenzie and Dr Daksha Patel, for example the interdisciplinary artist-led genetic modification workshop: Transformation – Thinking through Making with Life, participatory sound and bio-media workshop: Tentacular Resonances, the perception of medical data capture: Biorhythmic Drawing, visual literacy workshop: The Art of Observation and the recent Bio-Aesth-Ethics mini-masterclass led by Mackenzie as part of ASCUS and Edinburgh University’s Bio Design Lab. The event is intended as a primer for ongoing collaborative relationships, leading to new interdisciplinary ways of working that will inform project-based outcomes. For example, CNoS and IGM (NU) have recently established a new format of art/science collaboration through Black Box, a science-themed sculptural cinema and performance project. During development of this project we identified the need to connect artists and scientists towards the production of collaborative public-facing outputs (film, performance, sculpture, sound works, etc). We hope to build on this experience and generate more works that may be premiered at a future iteration of Black Box.

To register, please visit: CNoS website or survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TNWHBF8

PostDoctoral position available in the Pirog Lab (Newcastle University)

Musculoskeletal news
Faculty Faculty of Medical Sciences
Unit Institute of Genetic Medicine
Staff Category Research
Contract Type Fixed Term
Hours of Work Full Time
Location Newcastle upon Tyne

 

Salary: £30,395 – £32,236 (with progression to £39,610) per annum.

Closing date: 28 August 2019

An outstanding candidate is sought with a proven track record of research in the area of in vivo genetic models and/or cartilage pathobiology to join this project in the laboratory of Dr Kasia Pirog that forms part of the Newcastle University’s Skeletal Research group (SRG).

This is a 3 years fixed term position and provides an exciting opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary group as part of a research team studying osteoarthritis progression using mouse models to detect clinically relevant changes and potential disease modifying agents.

You should have a PhD in Musculoskeletal Science or related field, experience in general histology and laboratory techniques, large data analysis (transcriptomics/proteomics), and proficiency in statistical skills. Animal research experience would be advantageous but training will be provided if necessary.

This is a full time, fixed term post for the duration of 3 years.

For further information, please visit:
https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/katarzynapirog/
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/igm/research/skeletal/#research

The Institute holds a silver Athena SWAN award in addition to the University’s silver award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  The University also holds the HR Excellence in Research award for our work to support the career development of our researchers, and is a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains staff from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the community they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

Click here for further details.

To apply, please visit: https://vacancies.ncl.ac.uk/